Folding mechanism of a treadmill

ABSTRACT

A folding mechanism of a treadmill having a slide pusher at the bottom of a platform frame thereof. By use of a pneumatic cylinder, the platform frame may push the rear support in an opposing direction to keep a ground-touching slide action when the platform frame is moved upward and downward. In this way, an effective, strong, and auxiliary support force is created until the platform frame is moved in a vertical storage position or in a horizontal operation position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to a folding mechanism of a treadmill, and more particularly, to a folding mechanism utilizing a pneumatic cylinder and a slide pusher to provide an excellent auxiliary supporting force.

2. Description of the Related Art

As well-known, the treadmill has a large volume and a great weight. It is therefore common to provide the platform frame of the treadmill with a fold-up function for facilitating the transportation and the storage. In view of the basic accessories of the treadmill, the fold-up mechanism can be divided into an electric and a manual folding configuration. The invention is intended for the manual folding configuration.

In fact, the conventional treadmills are not able to provide an excellent auxiliary supporting force for helping the operator to complete the fold-up or fold-down process when the platform frame is moved either in a storage position or in an operation position. Thus, the women often regard the fold-up or fold-down process of the treadmill as an impossible mission because any careless action would cause injuries to the body.

The worry about the above-mentioned operation of the treadmill can be attributed to the improper or insufficient design of the treadmill in addition to the bulky platform frame. This is the key point of the problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a folding mechanism of a treadmill that employs a pneumatic cylinder and a slide pusher to provide an effective and auxiliary supporting force when the platform frame is moved in a vertical position or in a horizontal position.

According to the invention, a folding mechanism of a treadmill includes a slide pusher at the bottom of a platform frame thereof. By use of a pneumatic cylinder, the platform frame may push the rear support in an opposing direction to keep a ground-touching slide action at all times. In this way, an effective, strong, and auxiliary support force is created when the platform frame is moved in a vertical storage position or in a horizontal operation position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 with the treadmill's platform lifted in an inclined position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1 with the treadmill's platform lifted in a storage position; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a platform frame 10 includes a transmission motor 11 at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt (not shown) into rotation by use of a transmission belt 12, a front roller 13, and a rear roller 14. Meanwhile, a lifting motor 15 is employed to move an adjusting support 16 upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame 10. Moreover, two connection pins 17, 18 are disposed at both sides of the platform frame 10, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly 19 and a rear support 20, respectively.

A slide rail 22, on which a slipper 21 moves, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar 101, 102. A slide pusher 23 is pivotally attached to the bottom of the slipper 21. The other end of the slide pusher 23 is pivotally connected to the rear support 20. Besides, a pneumatic cylinder 24 is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengthening bar 103 of the platform frame 10. Meanwhile, the other end of the pneumatic cylinder 24 is pivotally attached to a central crossbar 231 of the slide pusher 23.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pneumatic cylinder 24 is brought into a compressed state by the weight of the platform frame 10 when the platform frame 10 is moved in a horizontal operation position. The pneumatic cylinder 24 provides an auxiliary supporting force to push the slide pusher 23 toward the front end of the platform frame 10 when the operator lifts the rear end of the platform frame 10. In this way, the rear support 20 may be also pushed toward the front end of the platform frame 10 for a ground-touching rotation until the platform frame 10 is moved in a vertical storage position. Accordingly, the platform frame 10 may be stably supported by means of ground-touching feet 25 at the frontmost end of the platform frame 10 and guide wheels 201 at the rear end of the rear support 20 that are brought into contact with the ground.

Likewise, the guide wheels 201 of the rear support 20 are also brought into a ground-touching rotation under the influence of the shock mitigation provided by the pneumatic cylinder 24 when the platform frame 10 is compressed downward until the platform frame 10 is moved in a horizontal position. Accordingly, a stable and effort-saving effect is achieved.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pneumatic cylinder 24 according to the invention can be pivotally attached to the rear end of the slide pusher 23. This may achieve the same effect.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A folding mechanism of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and a rear support, respectively, wherein a slide rail, on which a slipper moves, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar; wherein a slide pusher is pivotally attached to the bottom of the slipper while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rear support; and wherein a pneumatic cylinder is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengthening bar of the platform frame while the other end of the pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to a central crossbar of the slide pusher.
 2. A folding mechanism of a treadmill having a platform frame with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly and a rear support, respectively, wherein a slide rail, on which a slipper moves, is interposed between a first and a second strengthening bar; wherein a slide pusher is pivotally attached to the bottom of the slipper while the other end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rear support; and wherein a pneumatic cylinder is pivotally coupled to the bottom of a third strengthening bar of the platform frame while the other end of the pneumatic cylinder is pivotally attached to the rear end of the slide pusher. 